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The very best of classical music

Georgia Mann plays the best in classical music, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites.

Georgia Mann plays the best classical music for your morning, with discoveries and surprises rubbing shoulders with familiar favourites. Including the Playlister challenge: our regular listener-created sequence inspired by a different piece of music each day. Plus a new classical release in focus for Album of the Week.

1000 Playlister starter: listen and send us your ideas for the next step in today's musical journey. Text 83111 or email essentialclassics@bbc.co.uk.

1030 Album of the Week: an exciting new classical release in focus throughout the week.

1115 Playlister reveal: an uninterrupted sequence of music suggested by you in response to today's starter piece.

1200 Feast of a Piece: indulge your ears with an orchestral masterpiece.

To listen on most smart speakers say "Ask ѿý Sounds to play Essential Classics”

3 hours, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • Domenico Scarlatti

    Sonata in F major Kk82

    Performer: Angela Hewitt.
    • Hyperion.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    Symphony No.41 in C major "Jupiter" (4th mvt)

    Ensemble: Ensemble Resonanz. Conductor: Riccardo Minasi.
    • Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 39, 40 & 41 "Jupiter".
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 204.
  • Franz Schubert

    String Quartet in A minor D.804 'Rosamunde' (2nd mvt)

    Ensemble: Chiaroscuro Quartet.
    • APARTE.
  • William Walton

    Orb and Sceptre - coronation march

    Orchestra: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Andrew Litton.
    • Walton: The Centenary Edition: Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra/Litton.
    • Decca.
    • 18.
  • David Briggs

    Variations on Baa Baa Black Sheep - Fugue/Toccata

    Performer: David Briggs.
    • David Briggs.
  • Johannes Brahms

    Double Concerto in A minor Op.102 (3rd mvt)

    Performer: Julia Fischer. Performer: Daniel Müller‐Schott. Orchestra: Nederlands Philharmonisch Orkest. Conductor: Yakov Kreizberg.
    • Brahms: Famous Pieces.
    • PENTATONE.
    • 701.
  • James MacMillan

    Children are a heritage of the Lord

    Choir: The Sixteen. Conductor: Harry Christophers.
    • Good night, beloved.
    • Coro.
    • 4.
  • Errollyn Wallen

    Dances for Orchestra (Dance I)

    Orchestra: ѿý Concert Orchestra. Conductor: John Andrews.
    • Errollyn Wallen: Orchestral Works.
    • Resonus Classics.
    • 1.
  • Francisco Tárrega

    Recuerdos de la Alhambra

    Performer: Thibaut Garcia.
    • Meditation.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 63.
  • Robert Schumann

    Piano Quartet in E flat major, Op 47 (4th mvt)

    Performer: Emmanuel Despax. Ensemble: Piatti Quartet.
    • RESONANCE: Schumann, Farrenc, Durosoir.
    • Signum Classics.
    • 107.
  • Alexander Glazunov

    Symphony no.5 in B flat major Op.55 (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Royal Scottish National Orchestra. Conductor: José Serebrier.
    • Glazunov: Symphony no.5/The Seasons.
    • WARNER.
    • 2.
  • Matthew Locke

    The Tempest: Curtain Tune

    Orchestra: Vox Orchester. Conductor: Lorenzo Ghirlanda.
    • Purcell & Locke: Orchestral Works.
    • deutsche harmonia mundi.
    • 16.
  • Augusta Holmès

    Trois petites pièces: Gigue

    Performer: Juliette Hurel. Performer: Hélène Couvert.
    • Compositrices à l'aube du XXe siècle.
    • Alpha Classics.
    • 3.
  • Edward Elgar

    Cockaigne Overture 'In London Town', Op 40

    Orchestra: ѿý Symphony Orchestra. Conductor: Sir Andrew Davis.
    • TELDEC.
  • Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    Pezzo capriccioso

    Performer: Johannes Moser. Orchestra: Orchestre de la Suisse Romande. Conductor: Andrew Manze.
    • PENTATONE.
  • George Frideric Handel

    All we like sheep have gone astray (Messiah)

    Ensemble: Les Arts Florissants. Director: William Christie.
    • Harmonia Mundi.
  • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

    12 Variations on 'Ah vous dirai-je, Maman', K 265 (conclusion)

    Performer: Sir András Schiff.
    • DECCA.
  • Johann Sebastian Bach

    Sheep may safely graze (Cantata BWV.208)

    Orchestra: Academy of St Martin in the Fields. Conductor: Neville Marriner. Orchestrator: Neville Marriner.
    • The Best of The Academy.
    • EMI Classics.
    • 2.
  • Igor Stravinsky

    The Shrovetide Fair (Petrushka)

    Orchestra: Berliner Philharmoniker. Conductor: Bernard Haitink.
    • Stravinsky: Petrouchka, Scenes de Ballet, Berliner Phil, Haitink.
    • Philips.
    • 1.
  • Jean‐Philippe Rameau

    Dardanus: "Lieux funestes"

    Singer: John Mark Ainsley. Orchestra: Les Musiciens du Louvre. Conductor: Marc Minkowski.
    • Rameau: Dardanus.
    • Archiv Produktion.
    • 52.
  • Jan Václav Hugo Voříšek

    Symphony in D major (1st mvt)

    Orchestra: Scottish Chamber Orchestra. Conductor: Charles Mackerras.
    • Arriaga & Voříšek: Symphonies.
    • Hyperion.
    • 1.
  • Germaine Tailleferre

    Harp Sonata (Perpetuum Mobile)

    Performer: Cristina Bianchi.
    • Scarlatti, Baltin & Others: Harp Works.
    • Oehms Classics.
    • 5.
  • Edvard Grieg

    Wedding Day at Troldhaugen (Lyric Pieces Op.65 Bk 8)

    Performer: Leif Ove Andsnes.
    • Grieg: Lyric Pieces.
    • Warner Classics.
    • 19.
  • Camille Saint‐Saëns

    Cello Concerto No 2 in D minor

    Performer: Lynn Harrell. Orchestra: German Symphony Orchestra Berlin. Conductor: Riccardo Chailly.
    • DECCA.
  • Robert White

    Ad te levavi oculos meos a 6

    Choir: Choir of Clare College, Cambridge. Conductor: Graham Ross.
    • Palestrina Revealed - Byrd, White, Mundy.
    • harmonia mundi.
    • 109.
  • Antonio Vivaldi

    Concerto in A minor for two violins

    Performer: Rachel Podger. Performer: Johannes Pramsohler. Ensemble: Brecon Baroque.
    • CHANNEL CLASSICS.
  • Erich Wolfgang Korngold

    Symphony in F sharp major (2nd mvt)

    Orchestra: Orchestre philharmonique de Strasbourg. Conductor: Marc Albrecht.
    • PENTATONE.
  • Cécile Chaminade

    Guitare Op.32

    Performer: Eric Parkin.
    • Chaminade: Piano Works - Eric Parkin.
    • Chandos.
    • 11.
  • Georg Philipp Telemann

    Overture in D major, TWV 55 D6 (Rondeau)

    Director: Jordi Savall. Ensemble: Le Concert des Nations.
    • Le Concert Spirituel: Le Concert des Nations / Jordi Savall.
    • Alia Vox.
    • 10.
  • Richard Wagner

    Liebestod (Tristan und Isolde)

    Singer: Birgit Nilsson. Orchestra: Bayreuth Festival Orchestra. Conductor: Karl Böhm.
    • Mild und leise, wie er lachelt.
    • Decca.
    • 9.

Broadcast

  • Tue 2 Sep 2025 09:30